4 All creatures that live, you made according to your will, 3 You created both night and day, beast, birds, and fish;

Transcription

1 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants 1 THE WAKEFIELD PAGEANTS Processus Noe cum filiis 1 Myghtfull god veray / Maker of all that is, 2 Thre persons withoutten nay / oone god in endles blis, 3 Thou maide both nyght & day / beest, fowle, & fysh, 4 All creatures that lif may / wroght thou at thi wish, 5 As thou wel myght; 6 The son, the moyne, verament, 7 Thou maide; the firmament, 8 The sternes also full feruent, 9 To shyne thou maide ful bright. 10 Angels thou maide ful euen / all orders that is, 11 To haue the blis in heuen / this did thou more & les, 12 ffull mervelus to neuen / yit was ther vnkyndnes, 13 More bi foldis seuen / then I can well expres; 14 ffor whi? 15 Of all angels in brightnes 16 God gaf lucifer most lightnes, 17 Yit prowdly he flyt his des, 18 And set hym euen hym by. 19 He thoght hymself as worthi / as hym that hym made, 20 In brightnes, in bewty / therfor he hym degrade; 21 put hym in a low degre / soyn after, in a brade, 22 hym and all his menye / wher he may be vnglad, 23 ffor euer. 24 shall thay neuer wyn away 25 hence vnto domysday, 26 Bot burne in bayle for ay, 27 shall thay neuer dysseuer. 28 Soyne after that gracyous lord / to his liknes maide man, 29 That place to be restord / euen as he began, 30 Of the trinite bi accord, / Adam & eue that woman, (, alone, prays to God) 1Mighty true God, creator of all things 2 Three persons undeniably, one God in endless bliss, 3 You created both night and day, beast, birds, and fish; 4 All creatures that live, you made according to your will, 5 As you easily could. 6 The sun, the moon, truly 7 You made, the firmament; 8 Also the fully glowing stars 9 You made to shine very brightly. 10 You made angels, too, all orders that exist, 11 To share the bliss in heaven; all this you created, great and small, 12 Quite marvellous to speak of. None the less there was unnatural behaviour 13 Seven times more than I can well express; 14 Why? Because 15 Of all angels in splendour 16 God gave Lucifer the greatest radiance; 17 But proudly he moved his throne 18 And seated himself on a level with Him. 19 He thought himself being as worthy as Him who made him, 20 In brightness, in beauty; therefore He degraded him, 21 Put him in a low position soon after, within a moment, 22 Him and all his followers, where he may be miserable 23 For ever. 24 They shall never escape 25 From now until Domesday, 26 But burn in torment for ever; 27 They shall never depart. 28 Soon afterwards, the gracious Lord made man to His likeness, 29 That place to be restored, exactly as He began; 30 By agreement of the Trinity, Adam, and Eve the woman,

2 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants 2 31 To multiplie without discord, / In paradise put he thaym, 32 And sithen to both 33 Gaf in commaundement, 34 On the tre of life to lay no hend; 35 Bot yit the fals feynd, 36 Made hym with man wroth, 37 Entysyd man to glotony / styrd him to syn in pride; 38 Bot in paradise securly / myght no syn abide, 39 And therfor man full hastely / was put out, in that tyde, 40 In wo & wandreth for to be / In paynes full vnrid, 41 To knawe, 42 ffyrst in erth, in sythen in hell 43 with feyndis for to dwell, 44 Bot he his mercy mell 45 To those that will hym trawe. 46 Oyle of mercy he Hus hight / As I haue Hard red,, 47 To euery lifyng wight / that wold luf hym and dred,; 48 Bot now before his sight / euery liffyng leyde, 49 Most party day and nyght / syn in word and dede 50 ffull bold,; 51 Som in pride, Ire and enuy, 52 Som in Couet[yse] & glotyny, 53 Som in sloth and lechery, 54 And other wise many fold,. 55 Therfor I drede lest god / on vs will take veniance, 56 ffor syn is now alod / without any repentance; 57 Sex hundreth yeris & od / haue I, without distance, 58 In erth, as any sod, / liffyd with grete grevance 59 All way; 60 And now I wax old, 61 seke, sory, and cold,, 62 As muk apon mold 63 I widder away; 64 Bot yit will I cry / for mercy and call; 65 Noe thi seruant, am I / lord ouer all! 31 To multiply without discord, He put them into Paradise, 32 And afterwards to both 33 Commanded 34 To lay no hand on the tree of life. 35 But yet the false fiend 36 Made Him to be angry with man, 37 Enticed man to gluttony, incited him to sin in pride. 38 But in Paradise, for sure, no sin can remain; 39 And therefore man was then put out very quickly, 40 To live in misery and distress, to endure in very severe 41 pains: 42 First on earth, and afterwards in hell 43 To dwell with the devils, 44 Unless He declares His mercy 45 To those who will believe in Him. 46 He promised us the oil of mercy, as I have heard tell, 47 To every living creature that would love and fear Him; 48 But now in His presence all living people, 49 Most of them, day and night, sin in word and deed 50 Very boldly: 51 Some in pride, anger, and envy, 52 Some in covetousness and gluttony, 53 Some in sloth and lechery 54 And in many other ways. 55 Therefore I fear lest God will take vengeance on us, 56 For sin is now widespread, without any repentance. 57 Six hundred odd years have I, indisputably, 58 On earth, as any sod, lived in great sorrow 59 All the time; 60 And now I become old, 61 Sick, sad, and cold; 62 Like muck upon earth 63 I wither away. 64 And yet I want to cry for mercy and call: 65, your servant, am I, Lord over all!

3 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants 3 66 Therfor me and my fry / shal with me fall; 67 saue from velany / and bryng to thi hall 68 In heuen; 69 And kepe me from syn, 70 This warld, within; 71 Comly kyng of mankyn, 72 I pray the here my stevyn! 66 Therefore save me and my children who fall with me, 67 From evil, and bring us to Your hall 68 In heaven; 69 And keep me from sin 70 Within this world. 71 Fair King of mankind, 72 I pray you, hear my voice! [God speaks from above. God 73 Syn I haue maide all thyng / that is liffand, 74 Duke, emperour, and kyng / with myne awne hand, 75 ffor to haue thare likyng / bi see & bi sand, 76 Euery man to my bydyng / shuld, be bowand 77 ffull feruent; 78 That maide man sich a creatoure, 79 ffarest of favoure, 80 Man must luf me paramoure, 81 by reson, and repent. 82 Me thoght I shewed man luf / when I made hym to be 83 All angels abuf / like to the trynyte; 84 And now in grete reprufe / full low ligis he, 85 In erth hymself to stuf / with syn that displeasse me 86 Most of all; 87 Veniance will I take, 88 In erth for syn sake, 89 My grame thus will I wake, 90 both of grete and small. 91 I repente full sore / that euer maide I man, 92 Bi me he settis no store / and I am his soferan; 93 I will distroy therfor / Both beest, man, and woman, 94 All shall perish les and more / that bargan may thay ban, 95 That ill has done. 96 In erth I se right noght 97 Bot syn that is vnsoght; 98 Of those that well has wroght Deus. 73 Since I have made all creatures that are living, 74 Duke, emperor, and king, with my own hand, 75 To have what pleases them, everywhere, 76 Every man should be obedient to my command 77 Very diligently, 78 To Him who made man such a creature, 79 Fairest of beauty; 80 Man must love me with passionate devotion 81 By right, and repent. 82 I thought I showed man love when I made him to be 83 All angels above, like to the Trinity; 84 And now in great disgrace lies he very low, 85 On earth glutting himself with sin, what displeases me 86 Most of all. 87 I will take vengeance 88 On earth because of sin - 89 Thus I will arouse my anger - 90 Both on great and small. 91 I repent bitterly that I ever made man; 92 He sets no store by me, and I am his sovereign. 93 Therefore I will destroy both beast, man, and woman: 94 All shall perish, all. They may curse that bargain 95 That has done evil. 96 I see right nothing on earth 97 But sin that is unatoned for; 98 Of those that have behaved well

4 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants 4 99 ffynd, I bot a fone. 100 Therfor shall I fordo / All this medill-erd 101 with floodis that shall flo / & ryn with hidous rerd,; 102 I haue good cause therto / ffor me no man is ferd,, 103 As I say shal I do / of veniance draw my swerd,, 104 And make end, 105 of all that beris life, 106 Sayf noe and his wife, 107 ffor that wold neuer stryfe 108 With me [ne] me offend,. 109 hym to mekill wyn / hastly will I go, 110 To noe my seruand, or I blyn / to warn hym of his wo. 111 In erth I se bot syn / reynand to and fro, 112 Emang both more & myn / ichon other fo; 113 With all thare entent; 114 All shall I fordo 115 with floodis that shall floo, 116 wirk shall I thaym wo, 117 That will not repent. 118 Noe, my freend, I thee commaund / from cares the to keyle, 119 A ship that thou ordand / of nayle and bord, ful wele. 120 Thou was alway well wirkand / to me trew as stele, 121 To my bydyng obediand / frendship shal thou fele 122 To mede; 123 of lennthe thi ship be 124 Thre hundreth cubettis, warn I the, 125 Of heght euen thrirte, 126 of fyfty als in brede. 127 Anoynt thi ship with pik and tar / without & als within, 128 The water out to spar / this is a noble gyn; 129 look no man the mar / thre chese chambres begyn, 130 Thou must spend many a spar / this wark or thou wyn 131 To end fully. 132 Make in thi ship also, 133 parloures oone or two, 99 I find only a few. 100 Therefore I shall destroy all the world 101 With floods that shall flow and run with a terrible roar. 102 I have good reason for it; no man is afraid of me. 103 I shall do as I say - out of vengeance I draw my sword, 104 And make an end 105 Of all that has life, 106 Save and his wife, 107 For they would never quarrel 108 With me nor offend me. 109 To his great joy, quickly will I go 110 To my servant, straightaway, to warn him of his misery. 111 On earth I see only sin prevailing 112 Among all, each one hostile to the other 113 With all their will. 114 I shall destroy all 115 With floods that shall flow; 116 I shall bring sorrow to those 117 That will not repent. [God descends and addresses : 118, my friend, I command you, to preserve you from sorrow, 119 That you should build a ship of nail and board very well. 120 You were always well-behaved, truthful to me, 121 Obedient to my command; you shall feel friendship 122 As a reward. 123 Your ship be of length 124 Three hundred cubits, I tell you; 125 Of height exactly thirty, 126 Of fifty also in breadth. 127 Smear your ship with pitch and tar both outside and inside, 128 To shut out the water: this is a noble contrivance. 129 See that nobody hinders you. Begin with three tiers of rooms; 130 You must use many pieces of timber for this work before you manage 131 To finish. 132 Make in your ship also 133 One or two private rooms,

5 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants And houses of offyce mo, 135 ffor beestis that ther must be. 136 Oone cubite on hight / A wyndo shal thou make; 137 on the syde a doore with slyght / be-neyth shal thou take; 138 With the shal no man fyght / nor do the no kyn wrake. 139 When all is doyne thus right / thi wife, that is thi make, 140 Take in to the; 141 Thi sonnes of good fame, 142 Sem, Iaphet, and Came, 143 Take in also hame, 144 Thare wifis also thre. 145 ffor all shal be fordone / that lif in land bot ye, 146 with floodis that from abone / shal fall, & that plente; 147 It shall begyn full sone / to rayn vncessantle, 148 After dayes seuen be done / and induyr dayes fourty, 149 withoutten fayll. 150 Take to thi ship also 151 of ich kynd beestis two, 152 Mayll & femayll, bot no mo, 153 Or thou pull vp thi sayll. 154 ffor thay may the avayll / when al this thyng is wroght; 155 Stuf thi ship with vitayll, / ffor hungre that ye perish noght; 156 Of beestis, foull, and catayll / ffor thaym haue thou in thoght, 157 ffor thaym is my counsayll / that som socour be soght, 158 In hast; 159 Thay must haue corn and hay, 160 And oder mete alway; 161 Do now as I the say, 162 In the name of the holy gast. 134 And even more stables 135 For animals that must be there. 136 One cubit from below, you shall make a window; 137 On the side, below, you shall make with skill a door. 138 With you shall nobody fight, nor shall anybody harm you. 139 When all this is rightly done, take in your wife, 140 Your mate; 141 Your sons of good fame Shem, Japheth, and Ham Take them also in, 144 Their three wives as well. 145 For all shall be destroyed that live on land, except you, 146 With floods that will fall plentily from above. 147 It will soon begin to rain without interruption When seven days have passed - and it will last forty days 149 Without interruption. 150 Take into your ship also 151 Two animals of each kind, 152 Male and female, but no more, 153 Before you hoist your sail; 154 For they may be of use to you when all this is done. 155 Fill you ship with food, so that you will not starve. 156 As for beasts, birds, and domestic animals - for you must bear them in mind My advice is that some help be sought for them 158 Quickly; 159 They must have corn and hay 160 And other food as well. 161 Do now as I command you, 162 In the name of the Holy Ghost. 163 A! benedicite! / what art thou that thus 164 Tellys afore that shall be? / thou art full mervelus! 165 Tell me, for charite / thi name so gracius. 163 NAh, bless me! Who are you that thus 164 Foretells what shall be? You are a marvel! 165 Tell me, for charity s sake, your gracious name.

6 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants 6 God 166 My name is of dignyte / and also full glorius 167 To knawe. 168 I am god most myghty, 169 Oone god in trynyty, 170 Made the and ich man to be; 171 To luf me well thou awe. Deus. 166 My name is of dignity, and thereto much glorious 167 To know: 168 I am God Almighty, 169 One God in Trinity, 170 Who made you and each living man; 171 You ought to love me well. 172 I thank the, lord, so dere / that wold, vowch sayf 173 Thus low to appere / to a symple knafe; 174 Blis vs, lord, here / for charite I hit crafe, 175 The better may we stere / the ship that we shall hafe, 176 Certayn. 172 I thank you, dear Lord, that you deign 173 To appear thus low to a simple servant. 174 Bless us here, Lord, I pray for charity s sake; 175 The better may we steer the ship that we shall have 176 For certain. God 177 Noe, to the and to thi fry 178 My blyssyng graunt I; 179 Ye shall wax and multiply, 180 And fill the erth agane, 181 When all thise floodis ar past / and fully gone away. Deus. 177, to you and to your offspring 178 I grant my blessing; 179 You shall grow and multiply 180 And fill the earth again 181 When all these floods have passed and fully gone away. [Exit Deus. 182 lord, homward will I hast / as fast as that I may; 183 My [wife] will I frast / what she will say, 184 And I am agast / that we get som fray 185 Betwixt vs both; 186 ffor she is full tethee, 187 ffor litill oft angre, 188 If any thyng wrang be, 189 Soyne is she wroth. 190 God spede, dere wife / how fayre ye? 182 Lord, I will hurry homewards as fast as I can; 183 My wife shall I ask what she will say, 184 And I am afraid that we get some strife 185 Between us, 186 For she is very peevish, 187 Often angry for nothing; 188 Is anything is wrong, 189 she is soon wrathful. [Tunc perget ad uxorem. 190 God speed you, dear wife! How do you do? 191 Now, as euer myght I thryfe / the wars. 191 Now, as I hope to prosper, the worse for seeing you!

7 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants I thee see; 193 Do tell me belife / where has thou thus long be? 194 To dede may we dryfe / or lif for the, ffor want. 195 When we swete or swynk, 196 thou dos what thou thynk, 197 Yit of mete and of drynk 198 haue we veray skant. 192 Do tell me at once where you have been such a long time? 193 We may die, or live, because of you, 194 For lack of food. 195 When we sweat and labour, 196 You do as you like it, 197 But we are short of 198 Food and drink. 199 Wife, we ar hard, sted / with tythyngis new. 199 Wife, we are hard put to it with news. 200 Bot thou were worthi be cled / In stafford blew; 201 ffor thou art alway adred / be it fals or trew; 202 Bot god knowes I am led / and that may I rew, 203 ffull ill; 204 ffor I dar be thi borow, 205 ffrom euen vnto morow, 206 Thou spekis euer of sorow; 207 God send the onys thi fill! 208 We women may wary / all ill husbandis; 209 I haue oone, bi mary! / that lowsyd me of my bandis; 210 If he teyn I must tary / how so euer it standis, 211 With seymland full sory, / wryngand both my handis 212 ffor drede. 213 Bot yit other while, 214 What with gam & with gyle, 215 I shall smyte and smyle, 216 And qwite hym his mede But you were worthy to be beaten black and blue, 201 For you are always afraid, be it false or true. 202 God knows I am treated - and that I may regret Very badly; 204 For I pledge my word, 205 From evening till morning 206 You always speak of sorrow; 207 May God send you once your fill! [To the women in the audience: 208 We women may curse all bad husbands; 209 I have one, by Mary, who delivered me out of our Lady s bands! 210 If he is vexed, I have to wait about him, whatever it is, 211 With sad looks full of sorrow, wringing both my hands 212 For dread; 213 But at other times, 214 Whether by intrigues and by guile, 215 I shall smite and smile 216 And pay him back to the last penny. 217 We! hold, thi tong, ram-skyt / or I shall the still. 217 We! Mind your tongue, ram-shit, or I ll wring your neck. 218 By my thryft, if thou smyte / I shal turne the vntill As I hope to thrive: if you smite, I ll pay you back.

8 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants We shall assay as tyte / haue at the, gill! 220 Apon the bone shal it byte. / 219 We shall test it at once. Take that, Jill, 220 It shall cut to the bone. [Strikes her.] A, so, mary! thou smytis ill! 221 Bot I suppose 222 I shal not in thi det, 223 fflyt of this flett! 224 Take the ther a langett 225 To tye vp thi hose!. Ah, so! By Mary, you hit badly! 221 But I suppose 222 I shall not in your debt 223 Depart from this place: 224 Take this thong 225 to tie up your hose! [Strikes him. 226 A! wilt thou so? / mary, that is myne. 226 Ah! You want it that way? Mary, that is mine! 227 Thou shal thre for two / I swere bi godis pyne You shall get three for two, I swear, by God s pain! 228 And I shall qwyte the tho / In fayth or syne. 228 And I shall pay those back, in faith, ere long! 229 Out apon the, ho! /. 229 Fie on thee, ho! Thou can both byte and whyne, 230 with a rerd,; 231 ffor all if she stryke, 232 yit fast will she skryke, 233 In fayth I hold, none slyke 234 In all medill-erd,; 235 Bot I will kepe charyte / ffor I haue at do. You can both smite and whine at a time 230 With a roar; 231 For even if she strikes, [To the audience. 232 Yet quickly will she shriek; 233 In faith, there is none such as she 234 In the world. 235 But I shall be charitable, because I have to work..

9 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants Here shal no man tary the / I pray the go to! 237 ffull well may we mys the / as euer haue I ro; 238 To spyn will I dres me. / 236 Here shall nobody hinder you; I pray you go ahead! 237 We won t miss you, as I hope to have peace. 238 I will get ready to spin. [Sits down to spin.] We! fare well, lo; 239 Bot wife, 240 Pray for me besele, 241 To eft I com vnto the. We! Farwell, lo; 239 But, wife, 240 Pray for me diligently 241 So that I may come back to you again. 242 Euen as thou prays for me, 243 As euer myght I thrife Exactly as you pray for me, 243 As I hope to thrive. 244 I tary full Lang / Fro my warke, I traw; 245 Now my gere will I fang / and thederward draw; 246 I may full ill gang / the soth for to knaw, 247 Bot if god help amang / I may sit downe daw 248 To ken; 249 Now assay will I 250 how I can of wrightry, 251 In nomine patris, & filii, 252 Et spiritus sanncti, Amen. 253 To begyn of this tree / my bonys will I bend, 254 I traw from the trynyte / socoure will be send,; 255 It fayres full fayre, thynk me / this wark to my hend; 256 Now blissid be he / that this can amend,. 257 lo, here the lenght, 258 Thre hundreth cubettis euenly, 259 of breed lo is it fyfty, 260 The heght is euen thyrty 261 Cubettis full strenght. 262 Now my gowne will I cast / and wyrk in my cote, 263 Make will I the mast / or I flyt oone foote, 244 I have delayed my work very long, I believe; 245 Now I will fetch my gear and go thither. [Goes off to his shipwrighting. 246 I may fare very badly, to confess the truth; 247 Unless God helps, I may have to put up with being known 248 For a fool. 249 Now I will test 250 How good I am at carpentry, 251 In nomine patris, et filii, 252 Et spiritus sancti. Amen. 253 I will bend my bones, to begin with this tree, 254 I hope that help will be sent from the Trinity. 255 I am a quick worker, methinks, this work goes well; 256 Now blessed be he who can better this. 257 Lo, here the length, 258 Three hundred cubits exactly; 259 Of breadth, look, it is fifty; 260 The height is exactly thirty 261 Cubits in full measure. 262 Now I will take off my gown, and work in my tunic; 263 I will make the mast before I move one step.

10 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants A! my bak, I traw, will brast! / this is a sory note! 265 hit is wonder that I last / sich an old, dote 266 All dold, 267 To begyn sich a wark! 268 My bonys ar so stark, 269 No wonder if thay wark, 270 ffor I am full old,. 271 The top and the sayll / both will I make, 272 The helme and the castell / also will I take, 273 To drife ich a nayll / will I not forsake, 274 This gere may neuer fayll / that dar I vndertake 275 Onone. 276 This is a nobull gyn, 277 Thise nayles so thay ryn, 278 Thoro more and myn, 279 Thise bordis ichon; 280 wyndow and doore / euen as he saide, 281 Thre ches chambre / thay ar well maide, 282 Pyk & tar full sure / ther apon laide, 283 This will euer endure / therof am I paide; 284 ffor why? 285 It is better wroght 286 Then I coude haif thoght; 287 hym that maide all of noght 288 I thank oonly. 289 Now will I hy me / and no thyng be leder, 290 My wife and my meneye / to bryng euen heder. 291 Tent hedir tydely / wife, and consider, 292 hens must vs fle / All sam togeder 293 In hast. 264 Ah! I believe my back will break! This is a sad business! 265 It is a wonder that I endure, such an old fool, 266 Completely stupid, 267 To begin such work. 268 My bones are so stiff: 269 No wonder they are aching, 270 For I am very old. 271 I will make both the fighting-top and the sail, 272 I will also make the helm and the tower; 273 I will not neglect to drive in each nail. 274 These tools can never fail, I dare promise that 275 At once. 276 This is a noble contrivance: 277 These nails run 278 Through thick and thin of 279 All these boards. 280 Window and door, exactly as he said; 281 Three tiers of rooms, they are well-made, 282 Pitch and tar surely laid on it. 283 This will last forever, I am pleased with it, 284 Because 285 It is done better 286 Than I could have thought. 287 I thank only Him who made all 288 Out of nothing. 289 Now I will hurry and not be lazy, [Goes to his wife, his sons and their wives. 290 To bring my wife and household right here. 291 Pay attention to me quickly, wife, and consider: 292 We must flee hence, all together, 293 In a hurry. 294 Whi, syr, what alis you? 295 Who is that asalis you? 296 To fle it avalis you,. 294 Why, sir, what ails you? 295 Where is he who is attacking you? 296 Fleeing is the best thing for you,

11 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants And ye be agast. 297 If you are terrified. 298 Ther is garn on the reyll / other, my dame. 298 There is other business on hand, my lady. 299 Tell me that ich a deyll / els get ye blame Tell me every bit of it, otherwise you ll be blamed! 300 He that cares may keill / blissid be his name! 301 he has for oure seyll / to sheld vs fro shame, 302 And sayd,, 303 All this warld aboute 304 With floodis so stoute, 305 That shall ryn on a route, 306 Shall be ouerlaide. 307 he saide all shall be slayn / bot oonely we, 308 Oure barnes that ar bayn / and thare wifis thre; 309 A ship he bad me ordayn / to safe vs & oure fee, 310 Therfor with all oure mayn / thank we that fre 311 Beytter of bayll; 312 hy vs fast, go we thedir. 300 He who can assuage sorrows - blessed be His name! He has promised, for our well-being, to shield us from harm; 302 And said 303 That the whole world 304 With very fierce floods 305 That will run in one body, 306 Will be covered. 307 He said all will be slain except only us, 308 Our children who are obedient, and their three wives. 309 He had me build a ship, to save us and our possessions; 310 Therefore let us thank with all our might that gracious Lord, 311 The healer of pain. 312 Let us hurry and go thither. 313 I wote neuer whedir, 314 I dase and I dedir 315 ffor ferd of that tayll I know not at all where; 314 I m bewildered and I tremble 315 For fear of that tale. 316 Be not aferd,, haue done / trus sam oure gere, 317 That we be ther or none / without more dere. 316 Don t be afraid. Have done; pack up our gear, 317 So that we ll be there before noon, without greater harm. Primus Filius 318 It shall be done full sone / brether, help to bere. 1 Filius. 318 It shall be done very soon. Brothers, help me carry.

12 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants 12 Secundus Filius 319 ffull long shall I not hoyne / to do my devere, 320 Brether sam. 2 Filius. 319 I shall not delay very long to do my duty. 320 Brother: up! Tertius Filius 321 without any yelp, 322 At my myght shall I help. 3 Filius. 321 Without any boasting, 322 I shall help as far as I can. 323 Yit for drede of a skelp 324 help well thi dam Yet, for fear of a blow, 324 Help your mother! [They cross to the Ark, and all but go on board. 325 Now ar we there / as we shuld be; 326 Do get in oure gere / oure catall and fe, 327 In to this vessell here / my chylder fre. 325 Now we are where we should be. 326 Get in our gear, our cattle and possessions, 327 Into this vessel here, my noble children. 328 I was neuer bard ere / As euer myght I the, 329 In sich an oostre as this. 330 In fath I can not fynd 331 which is before, which is behynd; 332 Bot shall we here be pynd, 333 Noe, as haue thou blis?. 328 I was never before barred - as I hope to prosper In an inn like this! 330 By my faith, I cannot find 331 What is the front, what is the back. 332 Shall we then be shut up here, 333, by your happiness? 334 Dame, as it is skill / here must vs abide grace; 335 Therfor, wife, with good will / com into this place. 334 Lady, as is reasonable, here we must wait for grace; 335 Therefore, wife, come into this place with good will. 336 Sir, for Iak nor for gill / will I turne my face 337 Till I haue on this hill / spon a space 338 on my rok; 339 Well were he, myght get me, 340 Now will I downe set me,. 336 Sir, I will turn my face for neither Jack nor Jill 337 Till I have spun on this hill for a while 338 On my distaff. 339 He d be lucky who could get me! 340 Now I will sit down; [Sits down to spin.

13 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants Yit reede I no man let me, 342 ffor drede of a knok. 341 Still I advise anyone not to hinder me, 342 For fear of a knock. [ speaks to her from the Ark: 343 Behold to the heuen / the cateractes all, 344 That are open full euen / grete and small, 345 And the planettis seuen / left has thare stall, 346 Thise thoners and levyn / downe gar fall 347 ffull stout, 348 Both halles and bowers, 349 Castels and towres; 350 ffull sharp ar thise showers, 351 that renys aboute; 352 Therfor, wife, haue done / com into ship fast. 343 Look at the sky! All the cataracts, 344 Big and small, are open indeed, 345 And the seven planets have left their places. 346 This thunder and lightning make fall down 347 very fiercely 348 Both halls and chambers, 349 Castles and towers. 350 Very violent are these showers 351 That are raining on all sides. 352 Therefore, wife, have done! Come into the ship quickly. 353 Yei, noe, go cloute thi shone / the better will thai last Really,, go mend your shoes! The better will they last. Prima Mulier 354 Good moder, com in sone / ffor all is ouer cast, 355 Both the son and the mone. / 1 Mulier. 354 Good mother, come in soon, for all is overcast, 355 Both the sun and the moon. Secunda Mulier and many wynd blast 356 ffull sharp; 357 Thise floodis so thay ryn, 358 Therfor moder come in. 2 Mulier. And there are many 356 Sharp wind-blasts. 357 These floods are running; 358 Therefore, mother, come in. 359 In fayth yit will I spyn; 360 All in vayn ye carp By my faith, still will I spin. 360 You are all prating in vain. Tercius Mulier 361 If ye like ye may spyn / Moder, in the ship. 3 Mulier. 361 If you like, you may spin in the ship, mother.

14 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants Now is this twyys com in / dame, on my frenship. 362 Now, for the second time, come in lady, as I love you. 363 Wheder I lose or I wyn / In fayth, thi felowship, 364 set I not a pyn / this spyndill will I slip 365 Apon this hill, 366 Or I styr oone fote Whether I lose or win, in faith, your fellowship, 364 I do not care. This spindle will I empty 365 Upon this hill, 366 Before I move a foot. 367 Peter! I traw we dote; 368 without any more note 369 Come in if ye will. 367 St. Peter! I believe, we talk foolishly. 368 Without any other comment, 369 Come in, if you want. 370 Yei, water nyghys so nere / that I sit not dry, 371 Into ship with a byr / therfor will I hy 372 ffor drede that I drone here. /. 370 Indeed, the water is coming so near that I sit dry no longer, 371 therefore into the ship will I haste in a rush 372 For fear of drowning here. [Rushes into the ship.] dame, securly, 373 It bees boght full dere / ye abode so long by 374 out of ship. Lady, certainly 373 You ll pay dearly for staying so long 374 Outside the ship. 375 I will not, for thi bydyng, 376 go from doore to mydyng I will not, despite your command 376 Go from door to midden [i.e. a single step]. 377 In fayth, and for youre long taryyng 378 Ye shal lik on the whyp. 377 In faith, and for your long delay 378 You shall have a taste of the whip. 379 Spare me not, I pray the / bot euen as thou thynk, 380 Thise grete wordis shall not flay me. /. 379 Spare me not, I pray you, but do just as you think fit; 380 These great words shall not scare me.

15 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants 15 Abide, dame, and drynk 381 ffor betyn shall thou be / with this staf to thou stynk; 382 Ar strokis good? say me. / Stay, lady, and drink, 381 For you shall be beaten with this staff till you stink. 382 Are the strokes good? tell me. what say ye, wat wynk?. What do you say, Wat Wynk? 383 speke! 384 Cry me mercy, I say! 383 Speak! 384 Beg for my mercy, I say! 385 Therto say I nay I say no to that. 386 Bot thou do, bi this day, 387 Thi hede shall I breke. 386 Unless you do, this very day, 387 I shall break your head! [ addresses the women in the audience: 388 Lord, I were at ese / and hertely full hoylle, 389 Might I onys haue a measse / of wedows coyll; 390 ffor thi saull, without lese / shuld I dele penny doyll, 391 so wold mo, no frese / that I se on this sole 392 of wifis that ar here, 393 ffor the life that thay leyd, 394 Wold thare husbandis were dede, 395 ffor, as euer ete I brede, 396 So wold I oure syre were. 397 Yee men that has wifis / whyls they ar yong, 398 If ye luf youre lifis / chastice thare tong: 399 Me thynk my hert ryfis / both levyr and long,. 388 Lord, I were at ease and in heart very sound, 389 If I once had a dish of the widow s soup. 390 For your soul, truly, would I share out a mass penny then; 391 So would other wives, no doubt, whom I see 392 Here in this place; 393 For the life that they lead, 394 They want their husbands to be dead; 395 For by the bread I eat, 396 I wish that our master were so [i.e. dead]! [ addresses the men in the audience: 397 You men who have wives, while they are young, 398 If you love your lives, chastise their tongues. 399 I think my heart breaks, both liver and lung,

16 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants To se sich stryfis / wedmen emong; 401 Bot I, 402 As haue I blys, 403 shall chastyse this. 400 To see such disputes among married people. 401 But I, 402 As I hope for bliss, 403 Shall chastise this. 404 Yit may ye mys, 405 Nicholl nedy!. 404 And yet you may fail, 405 Nicholas Needy! 406 I shall make the still as stone / begynnar of blunder! 407 I shall bete the bak and bone / and breke all in sonder. 406 I shall make you as still as stone, you troublemaker! 407 I shall beat your back and bone and break it all apart. [They fight. 408 Out, alas, I am gone! / oute apon the, mans wonder!. 408 Out, alas, no more! Fie on you, monster! 409 Se how she can grone / and I lig vnder; 410 Bot, wife, 411 In this hast let vs ho, 412 ffor my bak is nere in two. 409 See, how she can groan, and I lie underneath! 410 But, wife, 411 Let us stop this violence 412 Because my back has almost broken in two. 413 And I am bet so blo 414 That I may not thryfe And I am beaten so blue 414 That I may not prosper. Primus Filius 415 A! whi fare ye thus? / ffader and moder both! 1 Filius. 415 Ah! Why are you doing this, father and mother? Secundus Filius 416 Ye shuld not be so spitus / standyng in sich a woth. 2 Filius. 416You should not be so spiteful, standing in such danger. Tertius Filius 417 Thise ar so hidus / with many a cold coth. 3 Filius. 417These storms are so terrible, with many a cold disease.

17 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants we will do as ye bid vs / we will no more be wroth, 419 Dere barnes! 420 Now to the helme will I hent, 421 And to my ship tent. 418We will do as you ask us; we will no longer be wrathful, 419 Dear children. 420 Now will I lay hold of the tiller [Goes to the tiller. 421 And look after my ship. 422 I se on the firmament, 423 Me thynk, the seven starnes I think, on the firmament 423 I see the seven planets. 424 This is a grete flood / wife, take hede. 424 This is a great flood, wife, take heed. 425 So me thoght, as I stode / we ar in grete drede; 426 Thise wawghes ar so wode. /. 425 So I thought, when I just stood and wondered. We are in great danger; 426 These waves are so furious. help, god, in this nede! 427 As thou art stere-man good / and best, as I rede, 428 Of all; 429 Thou rewle vs in this rase, 430 As thou me behete hase. Help, God, in this need! 427 Because you are a good steersman and, I think, the best 428 Of all, 429 Guide us in this rush of water 430 As you promised me. 431 This is a perlous case: 432 help, god, when we call!. 431 This is a perilous case. 432 Help, God, when we appeal to you! 433 Wife, tent the stere-tre / and I shall asay 434 The depnes of the see / that we bere, if I may. 433 Wife, attend to the tiller, and I shall test 434 The depth of the sea that we draw, if possible. 435 That shall I do ful wysely / now go thi way, 436 ffor apon this flood haue we / flett many day,. 435 I shall do that very carefully. Now, go your way, 436 For on this flood have we floated many a day

18 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants with pyne. 437 With suffering. 438 Now the water will I sownd: 439 A! it is far to the grownd; 440 This trauell I expownd 441 had I to tyne. 442 Aboue all hillys bedeyn / the water is rysen late 443 Cubettis fyfteyn, / bot in a highter state 444 It may not be, I weyn / for this well I wate, 445 This forty dayes has rayn beyn / It will therfor abate 446 Full lele. 447 This water in hast, 448 eft will I tast; 449 Now am I agast, 450 It is wanyd a grete dele. 451 Now are the weders cest / and cateractes knyt, 452 Both the most and the leest. / 438 Now I will test the water: [Lowers a plummet. 439 Ah! It is very deep. 440 This labour that I tell of 441 I had in vain. 442 Above all hills everywhere the water has risen recently 443 Fifteen cubits. But at a higher level 444 It may not be, I expect, for this I know well: 445 It has rained these forty days; it will therefore grow less, 446 Very truly. 447 Quickly this water 448 Will I once again test; [Lowers plummet again. 449 Now I am amazed It waned a great deal! 451 Now the storms have ceased and all flood-gates are closed, 452 Everywhere. Me thynk, bi my wit, 453 The son shynes in the eest / lo is not yond it? 454 we shuld haue a good feest / were thise floodis flyt 455 So spytus.. I think, 453 The sun shines in the east. Lo, is it not over there? 454 We shall have a big feast, were these cruel floods 455 Away. 456 we haue been here, all we, 457 thre hundreth dayes and fyfty. 456 All of us have been here 457 Three hundred days. 458 Yei, now wanys the see; 459 lord, well is vs! 460 The thryd tyme will I prufe / what depnes we bere Yea, the sea wanes now; 459 Lord, we are fortunate! [ prepares to lower plummet a third time. 460 For the third time I shall check which depth we draw.

19 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants Now long shall thou hufe / lay in thy lyne there How long do you want to wait? Put your line in there. 462 I may towch with my lufe / the grownd evyn here. 462 I can touch the ground with the palm of my hand even here. 463 Then begynnys to grufe / to vs mery chere; 464 Bot, husband, 465 What grownd may this be?. 463 Then a merry time of joy will soon begin for us. 464 But, husband, 465 What country can this be? 466 The hyllys of armonye. 466 The hills of Armenia. 467 Now blissid be he 468 That thus for vs can ordand!. 467 Now then let Him (him?) be blessed 468 Who decreed that for us! 469 I see toppys of hyllys he / many at a syght, 470 No thyng to let me / the wedir is so bright. 469 I see the tops of high hills, many at a glance; 470 Nothing will hinder me, the weather is so clear. 471 Thise ar of mercy / tokyns full right These are true signs of mercy. 472 Dame, thi counsell me / what fowll best myght, And Cowth, 474 with flight of wyng 475 bryng, without taryying, 476 Of mercy som tokynyng 477 Ayther bi north or southe? 478 ffor this is the fyrst day / of the tent moyne. 472 Lady, therefore advise me which bird might 473 And could best, 474 Flying on its wings, 475 Bring us without delay 476 Some sign of mercy, 477 Either from the north or the south. 478 For this is the first day of the tenth moon.

20 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants The ravyn, durst I lay / will com agane sone; 480 As fast as thou may / cast hym furth, haue done, 481 He may happyn to day / com agane or none 482 With grath The raven I dare bet, will return soon. 480 Sent him out as fast as you can - get on with it! [ sends out the raven. 481 He may be back today before noon 482 Without delay. 483 I will cast out also 484 Dowfys oone or two: 485 Go youre way, go, 486 God send, you som wathe! 487 Now ar thise fowles flone / Into seyr countre; 488 Pray we fast ichon / kneland on our kne, 489 To hym that is alone / worthiest of degre, 490 That he wold send anone / oure fowles som fee 491 To glad vs. 483 I will also send out 484 One or two doves. 485 Get on your way, fly off; [Sends out the doves. 486 May God send you some prey! 487 Now these birds are flown to different lands. 488 Let us all pray quickly, kneeling on our knees, 489 To Him who is without peer, the highest of rank, 490 That He will immediately send our birds some fee 491 To gladden us. 492 Thai may not fayll of land, 493 The water is so wanand They cannot fail to find land 493 Because the water is diminishing so quickly. 494 Thank we god all weldand, 495 That lord that made vs. 496 It is a wonder thyng / me thynk sothle, 497 Thai ar so long taryyng / the fowles that we 498 Cast out in the mornyng. / 494 Let us thank Almighty God, 495 The Lord who made us! 496 In truth, I think it is a strange thing 497 That they should tarry so long, the birds which we 498 Sent out in the morning. Syr, it may be 499 Thai tary to thay bryng. /. Sir, it may be 499 That they tarry in order to bring something back. The ravyn is a hungrye 500 All way; The raven is always 500 Hungry.

21 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants He is without any reson, 502 And he fynd any caryon, 503 As peraventure may befon, 504 he will not away; 505 The dowfe is more gentill / her trust I vntew, 506 like vnto the turtill / for she is ay trew. 501 He has got no reason; 502 If he finds any carrion, 503 Which perhaps might be found, 504 He will not leave it. 505 The dove is more docile: I trust in her, 506 Like in the turtle, for she also is true. 507 hence bot a litill / she commys, lew, lew! 508 she bryngys in her bill / som novels new; 509 Behald,! 510 It is of an olif tre 511 A branch, thynkys me Over there she comes, look, lo! 508 She carries some new tidings in her bill. 509 Behold! 510 It is a branch of 511 An olive-tree, I think. 512 It is soth, perde, 513 right so is it cald,. 514 Doufe, byrd, full blist / ffayre myght the befall! 515 Thou art trew for to trist / as ston in the wall; 516 Full well I it wist / thou wold com to thi hall, Moe. 512 Truly it is, by God; 513 That s what it is called. 514 Dove, you very blessed bird, good luck to you! 515 You can be trusted because you are as true as a stone in the wall, 516 I knew it for certain, that you would come back to your home. 517 A trew tokyn ist / we shall be sauyd all: 518 ffor whi? 519 The water, syn she com, 520 Of depnes plom, 521 Is fallen a fathom, 522 And more hardely It is a true sign that we shall all be saved 518 Because 519 The water, since she came, 520 Has indeed fallen 521 A fathom or more 522 Of straight depth. Primus Filius 523 Thise floodis ar gone / fader, behold,. 1 Filius Look father, these floods have gone! Secundus Filius 524 Ther is left right none / and that be ye bold,. 2 Filius. 524 Be sure that there is absolutely nothing left.

22 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants 22 Tercius Filius 525 As still as a stone / oure ship is stold. 3 Filius. 525 Our ship is stuck as still as stone. 526 Apon land here anone / that we were, fayn I wold; 527 My childer dere, 528 Sem, Japhet and Cam, 529 with gle and with gam, 530 Com go we all sam, 531 we will no longer abide here. 526 I would be glad, if we were immediately on land now. 527 My dear children, 528 Shem, Japheth and Ham, 529 With mirth and joy 530 Let us all go together; 531 We will stay here no longer. [They all leave the Ark. 532 here haue we beyn / noy long enogh, 533 with tray and with teyn / and dreed mekill wogh.. 532, we have been here long enough, 533 In misery and suffering, and endured great woe. 534 behald, on this greyn / nowder cart ne plogh 535 Is left, as I weyn / nowder tre then bogh, 536 Ne other thyng, 537 Bot all is away; 538 Many castels, I say, 539 Grete townes of aray, 540 fflitt has this flowyng. 534 Look at this green! Neither cart nor plough 535 Is left, I think, neither tree nor bough, 536 Nor any other thing, 537 But all is gone; 538 Many castles, I say, 539 Great, splendid towns, 540 Were removed by this flood. 541 Thise floodis not afright / all this warld, so wide 542 has mevid with myght / on se and bi side These undeterred floods have swept away this wide world 542 With might, on see and land, everywhere. 543 To dede ar thai dyght / prowdist of pryde, 544 Euer ich a wyght / that euer was spyde, 545 With syn, 546 All ar thai slayn, 547 And put vnto payn. 543 They have died their death, the proudest in their pride, 544 Each man that ever was caught 545 In sin: 546 They are all slain 547 And exposed to pain.

23 WS 2004/2005 Prof. Busse: HS Medieval English Drama. The Wakefield Pageants ffrom thens agayn 549 May thai neuer wyn?. 548 Can they never escape 549 From there again? 550 wyn? no, I-wis / bot he that myght hase 551 Wold myn of thare mys / & admytte thaym to grace; 552 As he in bayll is blis / I pray hym in this space, 553 In heven hye with his / to purvaye vs a place, 554 That we, 555 with his santis in sight, 556 And his angels bright, 557 May com to his light: 558 Amen, for charite. 550 Escape? No, certainly not, unless He that has might 551 Would bear in mind their wrongdoings, and offer mercy to them. 552 As He is consolation in misery, I pray to Him from this place here, 553 To provide us with a place by His side high in heaven, 554 So that we, 555 In the presence of His saints 556 And His bright angels, 557 May arrive at His light. 558 Amen, for charity. (Explicit processus ) Text: Translation: Participants of the Hauptseminar 1985 The Wakefield Pageants